Understanding Generic Medicine: Affordable Healthcare for All

Generic medicines are pharmaceutical drugs that contain the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts. They are bioequivalent, meaning they work in the same way and provide the same clinical benefits. Once the patent protection for a branded drug expires, other manufacturers can legally produce and sell the same drug under its generic name.

These medicines must meet the same standards of quality, safety, and efficacy as the original brand-name product, as established by regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), or India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).